What is the meaning of Acts 13:13? After setting sail from Paphos Paphos, on the southwest coast of Cyprus, was the last stop of the team’s first island mission (Acts 13:6-12). Luke’s wording reminds us that: • The journey is Spirit-directed (Acts 13:2-4), not a sightseeing tour. • Success in ministry at Paphos—where the proconsul believed (Acts 13:12)—did not signal a pause; the gospel keeps moving (Acts 8:4-5; Mark 1:38). • Sailing away pictures deliberate obedience to Jesus’ “to the ends of the earth” commission (Acts 1:8). Paul and his companions came to Perga in Pamphylia Perga lay in southern Asia Minor, a city noted for pagan worship. Arriving there shows: • A strategic step from an island to the mainland, broadening the reach of the message (Acts 14:25-26). • A clear shift in leadership—Luke now writes “Paul and his companions,” signaling Paul’s emergence as primary spokesman (compare Acts 11:30; 13:2 where Barnabas had been listed first). • God’s pattern of planting seeds in influential centers (Acts 16:12-13; 17:1-3) to let the gospel ripple outward. where John left them to return to Jerusalem John Mark’s departure—stated without comment—carries weight: • It foreshadows the sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15:37-39, showing real human tensions even among faithful servants. • Returning “to Jerusalem” may hint at homesickness or discomfort with Gentile outreach (cf. Galatians 2:12-13), yet God later redeems the failure; Mark becomes “useful…for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). • Paul and Barnabas press on, illustrating that no single worker is indispensable; the mission belongs to the Lord (Matthew 9:37-38; 1 Corinthians 3:6-7). summary Acts 13:13 marks a pivotal transition: having completed fruitful work in Cyprus, Paul leads the team into new territory despite the setback of Mark’s departure. The verse underscores Spirit-led momentum, strategic advance, and God’s ability to carry His gospel forward even when people falter. |
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